Robert Hawker Dowling
Encyclopedia
Robert Hawker Dowling was an Australia
n colonial artist.
Dowling was born in England
the youngest son of Rev. Henry Dowling and his wife Elizabeth, née Darke. He was brought to Launceston, Tasmania
with his parents in 1839 in the Janet. He received lessons from Thomas Bock
and Frederick Strange, and in 1850 advertised as a portrait painter. In 1856 Dowling left for London
partly with the help of friends in Launceston. He exhibited 16 pictures at the Royal Academy
between 1859 and 1882 and others at the British Institute. Returning to Launceston he afterwards came to Melbourne
and painted portraits of Sir Henry Loch, Dr James Moorhouse
, Francis Ormond
, and others. He went to London again in 1886 but died shortly after his arrival.
Dowling was a conscientious painter of figure subjects, often scriptural or eastern. He is represented in the Melbourne and Launceston galleries.
On 2 May 2007, one of Dowling's paintings – Masters George, William and Miss Harriet Ware with the Aborigine Jamie Ware – was bought for A$823,500 by the National Gallery of Victoria
. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/wireless/story/0,8262,8-21673364,00.html
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n colonial artist.
Dowling was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the youngest son of Rev. Henry Dowling and his wife Elizabeth, née Darke. He was brought to Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
with his parents in 1839 in the Janet. He received lessons from Thomas Bock
Thomas Bock
Thomas Bock , was an Australian artist.Bock was born in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England. Bock was an engraver in Birmingham; in 1817 he was awarded the silver medal by the Society of Arts and Commerce for an engraving of a portrait.In April 1823 Bock was found guilty at the Warwick Assizes...
and Frederick Strange, and in 1850 advertised as a portrait painter. In 1856 Dowling left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
partly with the help of friends in Launceston. He exhibited 16 pictures at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
between 1859 and 1882 and others at the British Institute. Returning to Launceston he afterwards came to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and painted portraits of Sir Henry Loch, Dr James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse was an Anglican bishop of Melbourne and of Manchester.-Early life and career:Moorhouse was born in Sheffield, England, the only son of James Moorhouse, a book-lover and master-cutler, and his wife Jane Frances née Bowman...
, Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond
Francis Ormond was a Scottish-born Australian pastoralist, member of the Parliament of Victoria and philanthropist in the areas of education and religion....
, and others. He went to London again in 1886 but died shortly after his arrival.
Dowling was a conscientious painter of figure subjects, often scriptural or eastern. He is represented in the Melbourne and Launceston galleries.
On 2 May 2007, one of Dowling's paintings – Masters George, William and Miss Harriet Ware with the Aborigine Jamie Ware – was bought for A$823,500 by the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/wireless/story/0,8262,8-21673364,00.html
External links
- Robert Dowling at ARTcyclopedia
- http://www.balgal.com/?id=dowlingroberthawkeGrandfather's visit 1865 - Ballarat Fine Art GalleryBallarat Fine Art GalleryArt Gallery of Ballarat is the oldest and largest regional art gallery in Australia. Established in 1884 as the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery by the citizens of Ballarat both the building and part of its collection is listed on the Victorian Heritage Registerand by the National Trust of Victoria.The...
.]